Distrowatch weekly answers a couple of Ubuntu questions in this weeks edition – amongst others the one in subject; and the answer given is “no”
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Speaking about Ubuntu 6.06, also known as “Dapper Drake”, some readers have apparently been confused by the unexpected recent release of “Flight” 7, a new alpha, which followed shortly after two betas. “Why making a new alpha release after the project has already entered the beta stage?”, they asked. Well, this is one of peculiarities of the Ubuntu development process. It seems that “alpha” releases continue throughout the development cycle, irrespective of whether there has already been a beta release or not. If you go back to the development of Ubuntu 5.10 “Breezy Badger”, you will notice the same pattern – a new alpha (or “Colony”, as the alpha releases were called during the Breezy development cycle), was also released shortly after the beta release of Ubuntu 5.10. In short, there is no need to be concerned that the Ubuntu developers have taken a step back and everything is set for an exciting 1st June “Dapper Drake” release announcement!